CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Rehearsals: Monday 19:00 - 21:15 pm, Auditorium (Victoria Rooms)
Chamber Orchestra is a high-standard student-lead ensemble that welcomes around 40 musicians from across the University to perform a variety of thrilling professional repertoire, from classical symphonies to 20th century music. Each year they put on at least three performances at some of Bristol premier concert halls including St George's and the Vicotria rooms. Chamber orchestra gets priority to play in the orchestra for our annual international tour.
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Auditions are in Freshers Week!!! Find out more here
Meet the Conductor: Sam Kail-Dyke
Sam Kail-Dyke is a third year music student and conductor of the Bristol University Music Society’s Chamber Orchestra. Sam’s previous conducting experience includes several other university ensembles including the Brass Band and Medics Orchestra, as well as productions including Donizetti’s ‘L’elisir d’amore’. He is also musical director for the local City of Bristol Brass Band Training Band. Outside of conducting, Sam is a pianist and trumpet player, and performs extensively both solo and as a member of ensembles, in and out of the university. He is also a trustee for the UniBrass Foundation - a charity which seeks to promote and support brass banding within universities. Looking forward, Sam hopes to forge a career in the music industry - with a particular focus on conducting - and is looking into options of further study in related areas for after his graduation.
CHAMBER CHOIR
Rehearsals: Monday 19:00 - 21:15 pm, G12 (Victoria Rooms)
The University Chamber Choir is an auditioned group of around 40-50 high-standard singers, performing a wide and varied range of choral repertoire over the course of the year. Performing at least three concerts every year, the choir gets to sing in some Bristol's flagship venues and churches, including at our annual St George's concert. The choir makes up the bulk of our international tour choir.
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Auditions are in Freshers Week!!! Find out more here
Meet the Conductor: Millie Whittle
Millie is a third year music student from North Wales. Millie is a principle study singer and a choral scholar in Clifton Cathedral and a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales. As well as singing Millie plays piano in which she has accompanied various solo performances and choirs, and violin where she performed with the North Wales Youth Orchestra and the county Orchestra. Last year, Millie was the manager of Chamber Choir and loved working with the amazing choir.This will be Millie’s debut in conducting a choir and she is very excited, particularly for An Evening with Bums in the prestigious St George’s hall!
SYMPHONIC WINDS
Rehearsals: Wednesday 17:00 - 19:00pm, Auditorium (Victoria Rooms)
Symphonic Winds is the University’s high standard auditioned wind band. We showcase a varied programme, performing standard wind band repertoire, with music by new composers, alongside fun medleys from films and musicals. We are a very sociable and close-knit band, who put on regular socials throughout the year; these include pub trips, nights out, quizzes and coffee mornings. Symphonic Winds has approximately 40 members. This year Symph wind is going to compete in the NCBF for the first time! Auditions are on Saturday 23/9, find out more here
Meet the Conductor: Jazmine Law
Hi everyone, I’m Jasmine, currently a third year music student. I was the the conductor of chamber orchestra last year, and I will be conducting symphonic winds this year. Even though I’m mainly a pianist, I also play the cello in the University Symphony Orchestra at the moment, as well as other orchestras or ensembles in the past, like the Hong Kong Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra, and the Concordia Orchestra in Minnesota, USA. It would be an absolute pleasure making music with both old and new faces in this coming year, and I can’t wait to meet you all.
BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
Rehearsals: Thursday 19:00 - 21:00 pm, Recital Room, (Victoria Rooms)
The Baroque Ensemble is an auditioned group dedicated to historically informed, high standard performance of the baroque repertoire. Due to its smaller size and passionate members, the ensemble has a unique family ambience. Places are available for a core group of strings, woodwinds and continuo, as well as brass and percussion. Auditions are on Thursday 28/9 find out more here.
Meet the Conductor: Matteo Robertson Ballotta
Hi, my name is Matteo Robertson Ballotta and I am a 2nd year geography student who loves to get out in nature and stay active. I live in Lisbon (when I'm not in Bristol) and I'm half-Welsh, half-Italian. I love lots of different types of music, whether that be your cheesy club bangers or baroque music or jazz among others. I started playing the violin when I was 7 (not the earliest!) and the piano a few years later. I was in my school orchestra playing the violin from the age of 10 until I left for Uni, where I encountered BUMS and the great variety of ensembles they have to offer.
Wind Orchestra
Rehearsals: Monday 17:00 - 18:30 pm, Auditorium (Victoria Rooms)
The Wind Orchestra is the largest of the non-auditioned ensembles and performs pieces in a wide range of musical styles. We welcome all abilities of wind, brass, and percussion players, so come along, meet new people, explore new music and enjoy being in a friendly and social ensemble! Our wind orchestra competes in the annual South West Universities Concert Band Festival, co-founded by Bristol but now featuring 7 universities accross the South West and this year to be held in Swansea!
Meet the Conductor: Thomas Jensen
Hello, I am Thomas a second year medic conducting the Wind Orchestra this year. I am an oboe player myself having really enjoyed Chamber Orchestra last year but also love my cricket and squash (and more recently padel tennis). Although I grew up in London, I really enjoy spending time in the countryside, particularly Somerset (especially at their county cricket ground in Taunton). Apart from music and sport, I can be found in my free time playing low level chess and having a couple ales.
BRASS BAND
Rehearsals: Thursday 19:30 - 21:00 pm, Auditorium (Victoria Rooms)
The University of Bristol Brass Band is a friendly, social and hardworking non- auditioned ensemble, welcoming brass (standard brass band instruments + trumpets) and percussion players of all standards. The band holds a number of concerts throughout the academic year, the highlight of which being competing at UniBrass, the annual inter-university brass band contest, in which the last year they won (almost)! If you would like to improve your playing and musicianship in a fun, social and low-pressure ensemble, join Brass Band on Thursday evenings in the Victoria Rooms Auditorium!
Meet the Conductor: Imogen McAra
Hi, I’m Imogen and I’ll be conducting Brass Band this year! I’m currently a third year studying Liberal Arts with a focus on Anthropology. I’ve been in choirs and ensembles since I can remember, so I’m very excited to be on the other side of it this year and participate in the creative process like this. I hope you enjoy what I have planned!
STRING ORCHESTRA
Rehearsals: Wednesday 17:00 - 18:45pm, G12 (Victoria Rooms)
String orchestra is a fun and exciting ensemble open to all string players without the pressures of auditions or intensive practice regimes. Violin, viola, cello, and double bass players are welcome to join as we strive to play challenging and engaging music to a high standard. Our repertoire is always varied, drawing on music of all genres. Players have the opportunity to showcase their work in 3 concerts over the year. If you want to play in a sociable and quality ensemble, join us on Monday evenings in the Recital Room in the Victoria Rooms!
Meet the Conductor: Jago Webb
Jago Webb is a violinist and 2nd year Music undergraduate, with a particular interest in arrangement and composition. Before Bristol, he was co-leader of the Opera North Youth Orchestra and the ON Academy, and played by invitation for the Leeds Symphonia and before that the City of Leeds Youth Orchestra. The BUMS String Orchestra is his first conducting role and he aims to broaden its traditional repertoire to embrace fusion with Jazz. When not making music, Jago is known to talk about Nottingham Forest, and enjoys walking in the Yorkshire Dales, and doing parkrun.
FLUTE CHOIR
Rehearsals: Friday 17:30 - 19:00pm, Recital Room (Victoria Rooms)
Flute Choir is a friendly and supportive group, relatively new to BUMS, having previously been part of the chamber music series. We are an unauditioned ensemble, who perform a variety of repertoire, including pieces written specially for us by members of the Composition Network. We have mixed abilities within the group, with some parts that are more challenging, as well as easier parts.
Meet the Conductor: Ben Connolly
Ben is a second year Music and German student from London. He came to classical music at the age of 8, having been surrounded by the traditional Irish music of his family all his life. Since then, he has played with many orchestras, chamber ensembles and bands across England and Ireland, appeared on national TV, radio and albums, and has won numerous national and international titles for chamber music and solo performance. Ben is thrilled to be running Flute Choir this year alongside Alex Topliss, having loved the high standard and close community last year!
MINERVA CHOIR
Rehearsals: Tuesday 5.00 to 6.30pm, St. Paul's Church Clifton
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BUMS newest and friendliest ensemble invites anyone along to sing, whether you have sang for years or just want to give it try. Minerva choir sings a varitey of repertoire, from fun pop arrangements to classic choral tunes, with a particular emphasis on Christmas songs during the winter season. Bring your friends and flatmates for a wholesome weekly singing rehearsal!
Meet the Conductor: Daisy Dorch
I’m Daisy - a second year geography student, and along with our manager Kodey, lead BUMS’ only un-auditioned choir: Minerva! I’m from a small town in Cheshire, and have involved myself with music my entire life. This includes playing in orchestras, recitals in solo piano and voice, and performing in musicals. I have sung in choirs and arranged music for choral groups, but this is my first year conducting a choir. Minerva choir is a relaxed, social group made for anyone of any ability, as long as you love singing!
